Lock key



Feb. 11, 1936., G. D. FULL ET AL LOCK KEY l Original Filed MaIOh l2, 1934 A PatentedlFeb, 1l, 1936 UNITED 4STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCK KEY George n. Fun', winnetka, and Joseph M. Muntner, Chicago| Ill., assignors to Dudley Lock Corporation, Chicago,v Ill., a corporationof Illinois y Original application March 12, 1934, Serial No.

715,102. Divided and this application August 24, 1934, Serial No. 741,218

s claims. (ci. 'zo-9) The present invention relates to keys for locks,

such as the rotary cylinder type having a plurality of tumbler elements normally positioned to lock the cylinder against rotation in its casing.

A lock of this general type is disclosed in our copending application Serial No. 715,1()2 illed March 12, 1934 of which the present application is a division. l

The primary object of this invention is to provide a. novel key structure formed with a plurality of longitudinally extending unrelated cam surfaces, each surface being arranged for cooperative engagement with one of a plurality of independently operablesets of tumbler elements of the lock.

Another object is to provide a key with two longitudinally extending unreleated cam surfaces on the same edge of the key and transversely spaced apart by a longitudinally extending groove adapted for cooperative engagement with a ward feature of the lock.

A further object of our invention is to provide a novel key structure which is extremely dicult of unauthorized duplication.

A still further object resides in the novel formation of a lock key which consists of a plurality of laminations of thin metal.

The invention consists in certain novel `features of construction as herein shown and described, and as indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal axial section through a rotary cylinder lock showing the key embodying the present invention in part section, shown retracting certain of the tumbler elements in unlocking position.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through the lock with the key inserted, and taken substantially as indicated at lines 2 2 on Figure 1, showing the tumbler elements withdrawn in unlocking position.

Figure 3 is a side view of the novel key structure embodying the present invention.

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse section through the key taken as indicated at lines 4-4 on Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through the key taken as indicated at lines 5-5 on Figure 3.

A type of lock for which the key embodying the present invention is adapted, is shown and. described in detail in our above mentioned copending application. In order that the present vthe lock is as follows:

The lock mondes a, cylindrical casing, In, of annular form in which is mounted a rotary cylinder orl plug, II, adapted for rotation therein under control of a plurality of tumbler elements when actuated lby a key indicated generally at understod in the art. 'I'he cylinder is made up of two longitudinally extending sections indicated at I4 andy I5, which are substantially semicircular in cross section, and the outer marginal portions of said sections are spaced apart by longitudinally extending plates, I6, which are apertured and anchored on studs, I5, of the cylinder section, I5. The cylinder sections are secured together with the'plates, I6, interposed by annular members, Il and I8, respectively, at opposite ends of the cylinder.

The cylinder is confined in the casing, I0, by a cup-shaped member, I2, secured on the rear end of the easing, and a cap plate or plug, 2B, is snugly fitted. and secured in the outer end of the casing. The cap plate and ring, I8, are provided with inter-engaging features, whereby the cap or plug is rotatable with the cylinder, I I, as a unit. This plug is provided with a key slot, 2011 registering with the key slot, I Ib, of the'cylinder.

The cylinder sections are each provided with a series of axially spaced transversely extending slots, I4c and I5, and the slots of the respective sections are transversely aligned in pairs. These slots would normally open into the key slot, IIb, except for the plates, I6, which serve to complete the individual transversely extending slots. Slidably mounted for transverse `movement in these slots are tumbler elements, 30, which are dimen-` tremities lie within the circular contour of the cylinder, II, to permit rotation of the cylinder in the casing, I0. vThese tumbler elements when free are yieldingly projected by coil springs, 32, into longitudinally extending grooves, I 0d, formed in the inner wall of the casing for locking engagement therewith. These grooves, IUd, are arranged in two diametrically opposite pairs for the respective series of tumblers, and each pair of grooves is radially spaced apart by a longitudinally extending rib, Ile which serves as the abutment shoulder against which the tumblers react to prevent rotation of the cylinder. These ribs are preferably the' same thickness as the spacing plates, i6, and are disposed in alignment therewith when the cylinder is locked in the casing so as to serve as a continuation of the surfaces of the plates, i6, in guiding the tumbler elements as they are moved to and from locking position.

Each tumbler element is provided with a coil spring, 32, disposed with one end reacting against a shoulder, 301. formed by th'e notch ln the outer edge of the tumbler element, and the 'opposite end of the spring abuts against a fixed transversely extending pin, 33, in the cylinder section. In`

the vlock structure disclosed in the drawing, the springs and the stop pins, 33, are arranged for urging adjacent tumbler elements of each series in opposite directions into locking engagement are preferably formed different from eachother in that their key-operated abutment shoulders, 30, may be located at one of a plurality of predetermined positions from the end of the effective locking surface of the tumbler elements. The cam surface of the key for engaging the abutment surfaces of the tumbler elements have their contours shaped accordingly.

It will be manifest from the construction above described that the particular arrangement of the tumbler elements is such'that certain of the tumbler elements of each series are movablein opposite directions from the others, and are engageable by different cam surfaces of a key.

Likewise, the other series of tumbler elements are engageable by different 'cam surfaces of the key. The construction in effect provides four sets pf independently operable tumbler elements, and to accommodate such construction, the key is provided with four longitudinally extending unrelated cam operating surfaces, 35, 35h, 35, and 35d, for actuating the independent sets of tumbler elements of the respective'series. Each of the cam surfaces of the key is of a sinuous contour and as shown in the drawing, these surfaces are arranged in pairs at opposite edges of the key. As may be seen. in the drawing, the operating portion of the key is of relatively at stock, and for convenience the narrow top and bottom surfaces` of the operating portion of the key are referred to as edges. Although the disclosure represents a preferred form of key, it is evident that the relative proportions of these narrow surfaces to the side surfaces of the key may vvary widely.

As may be seen in the drawing, the spacing plates, i6, in addition to providing guidance for the tumbler elements, 30, are dimensioned so that their inner marginal edges'project into the key slot, Ill?, of the cylinder a distance normally inwardly beyond the position of the key-operated abutment shoulders, 30, of the respective tumbler elements. This extension of the plates, I6, renders the lock exceedingly difcult of "picking by reason of the curtailment of space immediately adjacent the key-operated abutment shoulders of the tumblers. 'Ihe extensions of these plates v, also serve as wards, and provide guidance for t'h key,35, as it is inserted into the lock, and foithis @purpose the edges of the key are provided with longitudinally extending ward grooves, 35f, which transversely space the pairs of cam surfaces, 35", 35h, and 35, 35d, eirthe respective edges of the key. The side wall's 'of the key sl'ot, lib, formed in the cylinder, are provided with additional wards consisting of embossments, Hd and ld, whichare in the form of interrupted ribs which are ngageable in cooperating longitudinally extending ward grooves, 3.5 and 3511formed in the opposite side walls of the key. These embossmentso'n the respective cylinder sections, I4 and i5, are preferably of different size or shape as seen in the drawing, and serve to assist in gulding the key when it is inserted into the lock, and ensures inserting the key in the lock in only one possible position.

The key may be made fromfa solidpiece of metal or it may be made up offa plurality of f laminations of metal secured together, as shown in the drawing. By reason of the novel and peculiar formation ofthe key embodying this invention, it will be manifest that unauthorized duplication of the keys will berendered exceedingly difficult.

We claim:y

l. As an article of manufacture, a'key for a cylinder lock having two independently operable sets of tumbler elements arranged on opposite sides of the key slot, said key including an operating portion of substantial length having two substantiallyat side surfaces, and one edge of the operating portion of the key being formed with two longitudinally extending. unrelated cam surfaces transversely spaced apart by a longitudinally extending groove, said cam surfacesv being shaped respectively for engagement with abutment surfaces of the corresponding sets of Vtumbler elements for shifting them from locking position. 1

2. As an article of manufacture, a key for a cylinder lock having two independently operable sets of tumbler elements arranged on opposite sides of the key slot, said key including an operating portion of substantial length having two substantially at side surfaces, and one edge of the operating portion of the key being formed with two longitudinally-extending, unrelated, cam surfaces transversely'spaced apart by a longitudinally extending groove for cooperation with a Ward, and one of the side walls of the key being provided with a longitudinally-extending groove for cooperation with another ward, said cam surfaces being shapedv respectively for engagement with abutment surfaces of the corre-y sponding sets of tumbler elements for shifting them from locking position. y

3. As an article of manufacture, a key for al cylinder lock having three independently operable sets of tumbler elements, said key including an` operating portion of substantial length having two substantially nat side surfaces, said operating portion of the key being formed with three longitudinally-extending, unrelated cam surfaces, two of said cam surfaces being located on one edge of the key and being transversely spaced apart by a longitudinally extending groove, said cam surfaces being shaped respectively for engagement with abutment surfaces of the corresponding sets of tumbler elements for shifting them from locking position.

5. As an article of manufacture, a key for a cylinder lock having four independently operable sets of tumbler elements, said key including an operating portion of substantial length having two substantially fiat side surfaces, said operating portion of the key being formed with four longitudinally-extending, unrelated cam surfaces,

operating portion of substantial length having two substantially flat side surfaces. said operating portion of the key being formed with four longitudinally-extending, unrelated cam surfaces arranged in pairs, two on each edge of the key, said cam surfaces being shaped respectively for engagement with abutment surfaces of the corresponding sets of tumbler elements for shift them from locking podtion.

7. As an article of manufacture, a key for a cylinder lock having four independently operable sets of tumbler elements, said key including an operating portion of substantial length having two substantially flat side surfaces, said operating portion of the key being formed with four longitudinally-extending, unrelated cam surfaces arranged in pairs, -two on each edge of the key, each pair of said cam surfaces being transversely spaced apart by a longitudinally-extending groove, said cam surfaces being shaped respectively for engagement with abutment surfaces of the corresponding sets of tumbler 4elements for shifting them from locking position.

8. As an article of manufacture, a key for a cylinder lock having four independently operable sets of tumbler elements, said key including an operating portion of substantial length having two substantially flat side surfaces, said operating portion of the key being formed with four longitudinally-extending, unrelated cam surfaces arranged in pairs, two on each edge of the key, each pair of said cam surfaces being transversely spaced apart by a longitudinally-extendi GEORGE D. FULL. JOSEPH M. MUNTNER. 

